Dalai Lama Says Sorry He Can’t Meet Pope – Reuters

The Dalai Lama said on Friday he was sorry he could not see Pope Benedict during a 10-day visit to Italy in which most politicians have shied away from meeting him.

China sees the Dalai Lama’s world wanderings as a serious diplomatic offence and the Chinese ambassador to Italy called on politicians not to meet the Dalai Lama, local media have said.

The Tibetan spiritual leader expressed his esteem for the head of the Catholic Church, recalling that the destination of his first visit to Europe, in 1973, was Italy, precisely because it was home to the Pope. [Full Text]